I am taking a break this week from blogging. I am throwing the biggest, baddest baby shower and need to concentrate. You all don’t know me, but I don’t do anything a little bit. I typically go overboard and this shower is no different. I will be back next week after the holiday.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Brandi

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Anyone and everyone can and will have your blog theme. I have changed mine several times and still not happy with it. I found today a person that sells microphones with my theme! I don’t want to be like everyone else.

What I would love to do is hire someone to create just what I want. But alas, that costs money, money I do not have to put out for a new website.

If I had all the time in the world (and interest) I would learn how to custom Word Press themes for myself. but, who has that kind of time? Not ME! I can’t even write my book!

I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am going to a 4 day work week and Fridays will be devoted to writing, book stuff, blogging, and my Master’s program. I am so excited! Yeah me! Jealous???  Yeah – my new job is pretty awesome, you know for a day job

Later Writers!

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What is it about the snow cone that is so appealing. Really it’s just ice and sugar water, but even now I can’t resist. It’s the hottest day of the year and my (day) job gave all it’s employees snow cones. How awesome is that? We all stood in line debating the flavors, blueberry, cherry, pina colada.

It was my turn, my decision, I went with blueberry and it was awesome. With a young gitty grin we all returned to our desks chomping on our ice.  Who knew something so small can make you so happy. It’s probably the sugar high, but snow cones are just the best!

I wondered, what else do I still love enough to turn my professional self into a ten year old kid? Cotton candy, flower necklaces, The Never Ending Story…

Question: What is your snow cone?

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I went on a Bachelorette Party last weekend to the Ste. Genevieve Winery, Crown Vally Winery. It is beautiful county. Rolling hills of lush green landscape. It really is inspiring. But, that’s not what this post is about. It’s about celebrating. My friend Rebbecca let loose and celebrated her upcoming wedding. She was hysterical! I’d never seen her so free. It said to me that we all need to let loose some time and just have fun. I’m preggers so no drinking for me, but I did have a great time.  Here is one of my favorite pictures of the night.

Lesson for today— Have FUN this weekend!

Question: Tell me how you’re going to let loose and enjoy the weekend.

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This is an ode to new starts. I am starting a new job on August 16th. I am thrilled for the change. Not that where I’m at is bad, but I’m ready to do something different. I tend to get bored easily. I can’t help it. I need excitement. Once a job, event, hobby get mundane I stop loving it.

Is that what happened to my writing???? 

No – I still love it. It’s the only thing that actually changes every time I pick it up. I want to do it more. I try to fit it in. It’s so hard, waaaaaaaaa. I know, I’m a big baby

I need to buck up and get my prego butt moving! Need motivation people so I am officially challenging myself (and anyone who wants to join) to a 2nd half year competition.

We have 6 months left in 2010 and I WILL complete the novel WICKED WHISPER! Do you hear me universe??? Get out of my way, cuz this girl is on a mission.

Question: What is your challenge?

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Here we go people, hold on to your hats it’s too exciting!

Monday – Work …sleep at 7pm

Tuesday – Work …speep at 8pm

Wendesday – Work…sleep at 7:30pm

Thursday – Work…sleep at 9:30pm (whoa!)

Friday – Work…pedicures…pizza…sleep?

You see what I see?

I work to damn much!

(PS – notice there was no writing listed.  It’s so sad, but true)

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Back to the basics!

1. Find time to write

2. Find time to write

3. Find time to write

4. Find time to write

5. Read

HELP – I can not find time to write! Last summer I spent everyday totally engrossed in writing TRUE SIGHT. Now I have this great book started (WICKED WHISPER) and I just can’t find/make the time. We have so much going on and there are a million priorities. I know, I know…I need to make writing a priority.

That is easier said than done. Now we are having another baby (I am completly insane). With three kids, not sure where the time will come from.

Any suggestions?

Current Mood: Confused

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So, I am pregnant….again Yes this is now three and we are so excited. We have a 12 yr old boy (Bailey) and Sylvia is two. We are two 1/2 months along and all is well. I am tired and swear I’ve gained 50 lbs already, but besides that I feel great.

Not only do we have the pregnancy, but summer is killing me! We have been so freakin busy. Family reunions, parties, graduations, BBQs, baseball games, golf, etc… It never ends! With that said, I have done absolutely no new writing. I’ve re-edited WICKED WHISPER like a million times but that is all.

Here is my dilemma, maybe you can help me. My full manuscript is out with Rachelle Gardner (agent). I haven’t heard back from her in months. I don’t know if she liked it or hated it. I don’t know if I should edit it or wait for comments. Should I e-mail her AGAIN, or just wait? I e-mail her once a month to check in and she hasn’t respond to any of the three. She seems super nice and I know she is also very busy this summer, so I am not offended, just concerned.

I haven’t sent the novel to anyone else. I really want some feedback. All the agents I’ve sent it to just say it doesn’t fit, bla, bla, bla. No one has said, “hey you suck stop writing” or “do this and that and stop doing that”. What am I suppose to do when I don’t know? I do know I need guidance, but where do I get it? I need a critique partner, but where do I find one?

Authors and aspiring authors, how do you know what to do next?

Current Mood: Confused

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http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/2010/06/win-body-finder-signed-awesome-swag.html

Go here to get in on a great contest for The Body Finder! Can’t wait to read it.

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I was sent this great list of social networking created by Chris Brogen, thanks to Russ Henneberry for providing the link.  

It sounds like alot, because it IS a lot. There is so much that goes into being a sucessful writer. The days of writing a book and sitting back letting the publisher do all the advertising is gone. The author’s following is as (or more) important than the book following. I am exahusted just thinking about all that I need to do. It’s so hard with a family and full time job. I can’t even find time to write, how am I going to do the rest?   

Here are some authors that do a great job:

Jackson Pierce, Stephanie Pellgerin, Erin Healy (no blog but love her site), Alex Boles (my sister!), I also follow multiple lit agents most importantly Rachelle Gardner. She has my full manuscript. I am waiting to hear what she thinks.

Social Media Monster

An Author’s Plan for Social Media

1. Set up a URL for the book, and/or maybe one for your name. Need help finding a URL? I use Ajaxwhois.com for simple effort in searching.
2. Set up a blog. If you want it free and super fast, WordPress or Tumblr. I’d recommend getting hosting like Bloghost.me.
3. On the blog, write about interesting things that pertain to the book, but don’t just promote the book over and over again. In fact, blow people away by promoting their blogs and their books, if they’re related a bit.
4. Start an email newsletter. It’s amazing how much MORE responsive email lists are than any other online medium.
5. Have a blog post that’s a list of all the places one might buy your book. I did this for both Trust Agents and Social Media 101.
6. Make any really important links trackable with a URL shortener. I know exactly how many people click my links.
7. Start listening for your name, your book’s name. ( Covered in this post about building blocks.)
8. Consider recording a video trailer for your book. Here’s one from Scott Sigler (YouTube), for his horror thriller, Contagious. And here’s one from Dallas Clayton for his Awesome Book. (Thanks Naomi for pointing this out).
9. Build a Facebook fan page for the book or for bonus points, build one around the topic the book covers, and only lightly promote the book via the page.
10. Join Twitter under your name, not your book’s name, and use Twitter Search to find people who talk about the subjects your book covers.
11. When people talk about your book, good or bad, thank them with a reply. Connect to people frequently. It’s amazing how many authors I rave about on Twitter and how few actually respond. Mind you, the BIGGEST authors always respond (paradox?)
12. Use Google Blogsearch and Alltop to find the people who’d likely write about the subject matter your book covers. Get commenting on their blog posts but NOT mentioning your book. Get to know them. Leave USEFUL comments, with no blatant URL back to your book.
13. Work with your publisher for a blogger outreach project. See if you can do a giveaway project with a few bloggers (here’s a book giveaway project I did for Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years book).
14. Offer to write guest posts on blogs that make sense as places where potential buyers might be. Do everything you can to make the post match the content of the person’s site and not your goals. But do link to your book.
15. Ask around for radio or TV contacts via the social web and LinkedIn. You never know.
16. Come up with interesting reasons to get people to buy bulk orders. If you’re a speaker, waive your fee (or part of it) in exchange for sales of hundreds of books. (And spread those purchases around to more than one bookselling company.) In those giveaways, do something to promote links back to your site and/or your post. Giveaways are one time: Google Juice is much longer lasting.
17. Whenever someone writes a review on their blog, thank them with a comment, and maybe 1 tweet, but don’t drown them in tweets pointing people to the review. It just never comes off as useful.
18. Ask gently for Amazon and other distribution site reviews. They certainly do help the buying process. And don’t ask often.
19. Do everything you can to be gracious and thankful to your readers. Your audience is so much more important than you in this equation, as there are more of them than there are of you.
20. Start showing up at face to face events, where it makes sense, including tweetups. If there’s not a local tweetup, start one.
21. And with all things, treat people like you’d want them to treat your parents (provided you had a great relationship with at least one of them).

Brandi

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